I wake up startled, my eyes searching frantically for the source that has woken me.

There it goes again, a pinging against my window as if pebbles are being tossed.

Adrian?

But it can't be. Adrian is gone. Adrian can't possibly be here now, tossing pebbles at my window so we can sneak out to our clearing.

It can't be.

Heart thumping widely, I climb out of bed, my 10 toes sinking into the fuzzy carpet, and pad over to the window. Pushing the drapes aside, I peek out to find a boy standing on the front lawn, looking up at me.

It's not Adrian.

His metallic, steel-gray eyes meet mine and he gives me a small wave, before gesturing with a toss of his head for me to come outside.

I take a few steps back, putting myself out of view.

I don't want to face him. Not now. Not ever.

Another pebble hits the window, causing me to flinch.

Why is he here? What does he want?

So relentless. He's always so relentless.

Ping, ping, ping...

Frustrated, I walk back up to the window and shake my head 'no' at him while shooing him away with my hands.

He doesn't budge though. His feet firm on the ground, his eyes locked on mine--- willing me to come to him.

So relentless. He's always so relentless.

The window creaks as I push it open and step out onto the roof. A small breeze circles around me, causing me to shiver. The day was warm, but the night is cold.

My heart is still thudding widely as I make my way down to him. I can feel his eyes watching me the entire way.

"What?" I demand once I am on solid ground and facing him.

He shrugs. A move that irritates me a lot. "I haven't seen you in a while and heard that you were sick... thought I'll come and check on you. Make sure you're still alive."

Those last 5 words sting, causing me to wince. If only he knew that I was so close to not being here now--- alive.

I struggle with my wording. "I... Thank you... Thank you for coming to check up on me, as you can see I'm doing fine."

He studies me with those metallic gray eyes of his. "You've been out of school for so long, I was kind of..." He scratches behind his ear, his eyes now looking upward at the star-sprinkled sky. "Worried," he finally finishes.

"I appreciate your concern. I was pretty sick, but now I'm doing a lot better and hope to be back in school real soon." I'm gazing up at the sky too, a bit uncomfortable. I don't like the friendship that Levi believes is budding between us. I'm not interested in a friendship. Not at all. More now than ever.

"I'm happy to hear that."

"Thank you." I dig my slipper into the dirt at my feet. "Was there anything else?... Cause it's late and I'll like to go back to sleep..."

His Adam apple bobs up and down as he speaks. "Would you like to hang out tomorrow?"

I'm looking at him now. Annoyed. Annoyed by his straightforwardness. Annoyed that he had the audacity to wake me up from my peaceful slumber just so he can ask me how I'm doing and if I would like to hang out tomorrow... Yes, I would like to hang. I would be very happy to hang you, Levi Cruze, by a noose for everyone to see!

I am so done with the bad boy trying to play nice with me.

I can feel his eyes watching me, waiting for my response. Inhaling deeply, in an attempt to calm my ruffled feathers, I say, "I don't know as of now... try me tomorrow."

He smiles. "Ok, I will. Have a goodnight."

I say nothing and he takes that as his cue to leave. Smart boy.

I'm positive this time that I---I don't watch him go.

***

This morning, I decide to put on more than just a pair of sweatpants or leggings and a T-shirt. Today I want to feel confident in my rose-pink, ruffled skirt, and white-ribbed top. I'm even wearing a full face of makeup and curled my hair.

What side of the bed did I wake up on?!

"Shelby?" Mom enters the room, her eyes widening when they land on me. "You're all dressed up... are you planning on going somewhere?"

"Nah, just felt like getting dressed."

"Well, you look very pretty." She smiles.

I stare at her. "Was there something that you wanted?"

"Actually yes. I came to tell you that I'm heading out soon to Walmart and I thought that maybe you'll like to join me...?" The hope shining in her hazel eyes makes me want to puke.

My parents along with everyone else are trying way too hard when it comes to me.

"Why not," I shrug. "It gives me a reason not to be all dressed up for nothing, right?"

"Definitely." She smiles. "I'm going to go grab my purse and we're ready to go."

I give her a soft smile of my own. "Sounds good."

***

As a kid, I used to love to go to Walmart with Grandma. She always allowed me to choose out a small prize, 'every little girl's dream.' After her death, I refused to get close to the large store,  overwhelmed by my happy memories.

And now here I am looking up at Walmart's white, blue, and yellow sign, all those memories flooding in.

"Shelby, you coming?"

Mom is standing with a shopping cart near the entrance, her eyes that are plastered on me concerned.

I nod as I blink away the tears. "Yeah, let's go."

Mother and daughter enter the store.

***

I place the metallic blue nail polish into the cart and Mom smiles.

"Don't you have that one at home?"

I shake my head no. "It's a similar shade, but not this exact one."

She sighs dramatically. "You and your nail polishes. At the rate you're going, we're going to have to buy a whole closet just to store them."

Shrugging, I add the cole-blue bottle to the cart.

"Seriously?"

I just look at her and smile.

Wagging her finger at me she says, "Ok, time to move far away from this aisle. Come along."

I wave goodbye to all the beautiful shades of polish and follow my mom to the cleaning supplies aisle. And then the kitchen supplies. I'm in a trance remembering myself as a young girl... little hand in grandma's larger one as we marched down these exact aisles.

Suddenly I feel like I lost the ability to breathe. My lungs choking up.

"Mom," I gasp.

She looks back at me.

"Are you almost done?" I manage to ask.

"Yes, just need to get some energy drinks for Josh."

"Can I go wait by the checkout for you?"

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I noticed that the lines are really long, might as well have you waiting on one already."

With that I'm off, my feet moving as fast as they can...

I'm waiting in line behind a group of boys who are not being discreet enough on checking me out. I have no interest in them. My interest is in the flower bouquets that are being displayed in a bin next to the boys.

The line moves forward, and now I am standing beside the colorful flowers. The 5 fingers of my right hand reach out to touch the soft petals of the red rose bouquet. They feel like velvet.

"There you are." Mom rushes over, the shopping cart wheels squeaking along the shiny floor.

When she pulls up beside me, I gently place the bouquet into the cart. She looks at me with a question in her eyes, but doesn't ask and I am grateful to her for that.

Finally, we reach the front of the line and I quickly help Mom unpack the cart being extra careful with the nail polish bottles and even extra, extra careful with the roses.

On the way home, Mom finally has enough courage to ask, "Who are the roses for?"

I don't look at her as I respond with my 1-word answer, "Adrian."

She doesn't question further.

***

I step outside and breathe in the cool, fresh air. The moment doesn't last long when I see him standing at the foot of the stairs, leg raised to begin his ascend.

"What do you want?" I ask, miffed.

He looks up at me and gives me an innocent face. Not that Levi Cruze's face could ever show innocence. Honestly, I don't even know what face that is supposed to be!

"You haven't answered my texts so I thought I'd come by to see what's up."

I descend the stairs the straps to the backpack I'm wearing sliding down my shoulders and come to a stop right before him--- so close I can feel his warm breath on my face. "Maybe I was ignoring your texts on purpose."

He looks puzzled by my response. Seriously?

"Why wouldn't you want to hang out?"

"Because I have other plans," I reply nonchalantly as I move past him and make my way down the path.

"With who?" He dares to call after me.

My hands ball into fists, 8 sharp fingernails digging into the paper-thin flesh of my palms. I refuse to look back at him.  "That is none of your business."

"But I thought we were friends."

I spin around so fast, he flinches. "Friends! Friends! I never wanted to be your friend. You are the one who keeps on pursuing me, giving me no choice but to just say yes because you're driving me mad. Why are you so obsessed with me? Huh? Why?" My chest is heaving for breath.

His face is traced with hurt, but that only lasts for a moment before his eyes go dark from the anger creeping in. "I'm so sorry for trying to get close to you. For being vulnerable. For thinking that maybe you could use a..."

"All this time you have been just making assumptions because you looked at my file," I cut in, fuming. "And I didn't ask you to be vulnerable with me. I don't need you to drop your bad-boy demeanor when you're around me. Just stop with the act already!"

"Really?" He takes a few steps forward toward me. "Don't tell me that you can't use a friend as much as I do. Don't you have to be nice to make a friend?"

"I have friends. And no you don't have to be nice, especially to me."

"But they aren't your true friends. And maybe I want to be nice, especially to you. Maybe I want you to have a kind, trusting friend to confide in. Maybe I chose you, cause I thought you'll be a good friend for me. But who knows, maybe I'm wrong."

"Once again stop making assumptions and leave me the hell alone." I give him one last glare before turning my back to him. His words have left a mark on me, but I won't allow him to see that.

I don't wait around to hear what else he has to say.